TEENAGERS had a cold and disturbed night of sleep when they camped out at Coventry Cathedral to find out what life is like on the streets of Honduras.

The event was organised by city-based charity Global Care, which works in the Central American country getting children off the streets.

About 40 teenagers braved a cold November night at the cathedral but they did not enjoy a pleasant night’s sleep.

The evening started in good humour with live music, street dancing and shelter building.

But as the night went on the participants experienced issues they would have to deal with on the streets in Honduras. Organisers started “stealing” their belongings and the teens soon learned not to leave anything unattended and to steal from others, like real street kids.

During the night they had three surprise “wake-ups”.

The first was an audio segment with a background of domestic violence, one of the most common reasons children end up on the streets.

The second focused on dangers such as drug abuse, gang violence, trafficking and prostitution.

Then at 6am four police officers and a dog handler from the Coventry city centre team burst into the cathedral shining lights in the teenagers’ faces.

Global Care CEO John White said: “This was to highlight the risk of institutionalised violence, and the contrast between our police who are there to protect you, and police in other countries who are themselves a source of danger for children on the streets.

“We would like to thank the officers involved, they did a fantastic job and made a real impact on the young people, some of whom didn’t initially realise it was part of the night’s activities, and were quite shaken by the experience.”

The teenagers were sponsored to take part in the event and raised more than £1,700 which will be used by Global Care’s partners in Honduras.

Mr White said: “Sleep Out was a very powerful experience for those who took part – giving the young people first-hand experience of vulnerability and uncertainty, when the protective environment they often take for granted is suddenly swept away. It offers a unique insight into the risks and dangers of street life, which tragically form the daily experience of too many children and young people around the world.”

He thanked the Cathedral Youth Team, Keith Parr, a member of the ministry team at Queens Road Baptist Church, and Radio Plus.